China bans rare earth minerals export to the US

China announced yesterday that it is pausing export of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications to the US. These minerals are also used in semiconductors.

The move comes in response to the Biden administration’s announcement on Monday limiting the sales of US chips, manufacturing equipment, and software to Chinese companies.

The ban would not likely impact the US much, according to Bloomberg, because the country already procures germanium and gallium from elsewhere.